Natural Beauty

I had to make one more card with this set since I had it out. This is a very simple card, and layout. I think this would make a great Mother's Day card.

I actually stamped the watercolored flowers on Naturals White Cardstock, since that is a more absorbant white, and able to take the extra water used while watercoloring. It just didn't look right next to the larger piece of Whisper White cardstock, so I cut the flower out and glued it to the stamped whisper white. I think I like it better this way with the other flowers behind it anyway.

All supplies SU:

Set: Natual Beauty

Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Red Riding Hood, White

Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Pink Pirouette, Red Riding Hood

Technostampers Monday Lunchtime Sketch

I don't know how Mary Jo does it, but she always comes up with great ideas for her weekly sketch challenges.


I think sketch challenges are my favorite type of challenge too. It's just enough of a jumping off point to get me started on a card, but there are no other limits to it.


This is a new stamp set from the upcoming Occasions Mini called Sense of Time. Very easy to use, and great for a masculine card!



I added a Father's Day saying to the inside of this card.

Here's Mary Jo's sketch. You can check out the details and play along on her blog.



All supplies SU:
Set: Sense of Time
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, DSP
Ink: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip
Brads are non-SU

Mother's Day

Mother's Day might not seem so close, but it will be here before we know it! I had to get some Mom's cards made and loaded up to my Etsy shop and thought I would share.

I've always loved this cute, whimsical stamp set. It never made it into SU's big catalog, just the mini, but I'm glad I hung on to it.

I colored the image with markers to make it vibrant. I don't often color with markers, as I usually prefer the softer look of watercoloring, but this one needed to pop out I thought.

All supplies SU, except the patterned paper:

Set: When I grow up

Cardstock: Brocade Blue, White, Night of Navy, Real Red

Ink: Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Really Rust, Brocade Blue, Real Red, Gable Green

Red Grosgrain, not sure who made the patterned paper

Have a great weekend!

Happy Birthday Kerry Card #2

You can see more information about this challenge in the post below.

This is card #2 for Kerry's weekly blog challenge. The parameters this week were:

*A Birthday card

*Using the color Purple

*With Glitter

I inked up one of my sizzix texture folders with Lovely Lilac ink and then ran it through the Big Shot with the cardstock in it. The embossed image shows up white and the rest of the cardstock picks up the ink. The glitter is on the little polka dots of the paisley.

All Supplies SU:

Sets: Polka Dot and Paisley, Happy Everything

Cardstock: White, Orchic Opulance

Ink: Orchid, Lavender Lace, Lovely Lilac

Happy Birthday Kerry- Card #1

I've never actually met Kerry, but she has been a cyber-friend for a number of years now. She invited me to join an online swap group when she started it, and we've gotten to know each other through the group.

Her birthday is coming up, and so for her weekly blog challenge (check it out if you want to play), she asked us to make:

**A Birthday Card

**With the color Purple

**And Glitter

All of her favorite things :). So this is for you Kerry!

I have to tell you, while I do like glitter (I even bought some in my last order), I really, really do not like working with it. It's ends up on everything, including me!

I made 2 cards for this challenge, but since I have a busy few days ahead of me and may not be able to make anything new, I am not going to post the 2nd card until tomorrow.

All Supplies SU:

Sets: Polks Dots and Paisley, Happy Everything

Cardstock: Almost Amethyst, Lovely Lilace, White

Ink: Almost Amethyst, Lovely Lilac, Gable Green

Accessories: Sizzix Folder (non-SU), ribbon

Splitcoast Sketch Challenge

I've been seeing this more and more lately, and thought I would try it. What you ask? Layering a textured piece of white cardstock on another piece of white cardstock. Wow! Does it ever make your main image pop! I love it.

Although this stamp set has long since retired, I still really like the images. I'm glad I pulled it out today, as I think it works well with this layout.

The butterflies were stamped on watercolor paper, and then watercolored with re-inkers. If you plan on using lots of color/water, watercolor paper is by far the best option, as it soaks up the moisture without shedding or curling.

Here's the sketch from Splitcoast that I used for this card:

All supplies Stampin Up!

Sets: Natural Beauty, It's Your Birthday

Cardstock: White, Kiwi Kiss, Red Riding Hood, Bella Rosa DSP, Watercolor Paper

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Kiwi Kiss, Red Riding Hood, Pink Pirouette, Tangerine Tango

Accessories: Damask Texture Plate

Splitcoast Color Challenge

The color challenge on Splitcoast yesterday was:

Pretty In Pink, Kiwi Kiss or Old Olive, and Baja Breeze

While I like these colors together, I have to admit that I had a little bit of a hard time with this challenge. I so badly wanted to throw in a red or brown shade, but I stuck to the guidelines :).

I colored the stamp with markers, then watercolored the background with the baja breeze.

This is short post, but who cares about the *words* anyways...it's all about the cards right!

All supplies Stampin' Up:

Set: Upsy Daisy

Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Old Olive, Pretty In Pink, White, Bella Rosa DSP
Ink: Pretty In Pink, Old Olive, Baja Breeze

Pink Grosgrain

Watercoloring

If I had to pick a favorite technique, it would be watercoloring. I love doing it, and I love the soft look of the finished image.

I made this card quite a while ago, but as I was going through some of my old image files, came across it. Unfortunately, I can't remember the name of the stamp set, and I'm too lazy to go look it up. :)

The image was stamped on watercolor paper using Staz-On ink. This is really the best combination for watercoloring, but if you aren't going to be applying too much water, you can use some of the naturals papers too.

I'm really glad it's spring now and not fall, but I have to say, that this image does make me hungry for some fresh fall apples...and apple crisp, and apple pie....:) Have a great day!

Monday Sketch #2

First of all, I found it...the stampin' around wheel guide. In case you don't know what that is, it's like a ruler/straight edge, and it makes all the difference in the world when you need to wheel something straight. I made this card, and didn't notice until I had taken a picture of it, how very crooked the wheeled image was (the words).

I had wanted to use the wheel guide the first time around, but couldn't find it. So, I went on a double-effort search, and finally located it! Yeah! I re-wheeled the words, using the wheel guide, and voila-straight words.

This is card #2 for Technostampers Monday Lunchtime Sketch. You can see details in the post below this.

Monday Lunchtime Sketch

I actually have 2 cards made for this sketch, but after taking a picture of the one card, I saw a glaring mistake that I have to correct.

This is the sketch from Technostampers Blog. She posts a sketch for us every Monday, and we make a card from the sketch. Make sure you check out her blog and play along.

Here's the first card I made. I thought this would be a fun boy's birthday card. I'm not sure if you can see it, but there are actually 2 layers of Brocade Blue cardstock. The top layer is

textured with one of the sizzix texture plates. All supplies Stampin Up:

.

Stamps: Toy Box, ABC wheel

Cardstock: Brocade Blue, chocolate chip, white

Ink: Always artichoke, brocade blue, chocolate chip, black

Chocolate chip twill ribbon, circle punches, dimensionals

I'll try and fix the 2nd card and post it later.

As an aside, does anyone remember the name of that ruler/tool used with the stampin' around wheels? Better yet, does anyone know where I put mine??!! It would help me out greatly if you could answer those 2 questions :)

Fun Love Notes

I bought these Love Notes a while back (is it a few years already?), and have hardly used them. I 'm so glad I pulled them out again though. What a great little card to put in a lunchbox or use as a gift tag. The felt flowers are the perfect accent on them too.

I will be posting these for sale on my Etsy shop tomorrow, so if you are interested, check back.

All supplies Stampin Up, except for the brads.

Designer Papers: Sweet Always, Bella Rosa and Washington Apple

Three Clovers Thursday Blog Challenge

It's been a busy day around here, so I didn't know if I would get a chance to stamp. But when I saw Kerry's Use It Up Challenge, I knew I had to squeeze in a card. I'm a paper collector. Each time a new SU catalog comes out, I buy packs and packs, so this challenge was perfect.

We had to use some patterned paper that we have had for at least one year, and we had to use 2 different sheets. Now here's the amazing thing...for those who know me, I rarely stray from SU products. Not because I feel such a great loyalty, but just because I love their stuff. Since I've been a demo for 6 years now, I always figured if I was going to spend my stamping money, I might as well spend it on things I can show my customers. This is the first year though, that I am not actively demoing, so I can use retired products and non-SU, and I can stamp just for the fun of it.

So, everything is SU, except for the patterned paper, and the stamp set is retired :) (Lively Little Ones).

Don't forget to visit Kerry's blog, to check out the great samples posted and play along for the challenge!

Oh, and one more thing. I was late getting into the Big Shot movement, but have to tell you how much I love that machine! The texture plates and texture folders are such a fast and easy way to add dimension and *funness* (I don't think that's a word) to a card. I added a close up of the background for you to see.

Technostampers Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge

Here's another sketch challenge group that I just love to play along with. Mary Jo posts a sketch on her blog every Monday morning for us. Feel free to play along here. Here's this weeks sketch:

And here's the card I made:

All supplies Stampin' Up

Set: Polka dot and petals

Cardstock: pink pirouette, chocolate chip, white

Ink: red riding hood, chocolate chip, baja breeze, pink pirouette

Accessories: pink grosgrain, scallop punch, oval punches, sizzix texture folder (this is not from SU)

Sketch Challenge 220 (03/18/09) - Splitcoaststampers

I love to use a sketch as a starting point for a card. This weeks sketch challenge was a little bit different, but fun. You can see the sketch here:





Sketch Challenge 220 (03/18/09) - Splitcoaststampers

And here's my card:


All Supplies Stampin' Up
Set: Simple Friendship
Cardstock: Lavender Lace, black, brocade blue, glossy white
Ink: Lavender lace, lovely lilac, brocade blue, versamark, basic black

I can't remember the name of the technique I used, but here's how it works. Stamp you images on glossy cardstock, and then smear ink all over with sponge daubers. Then, cut the glossy cardstock into strips and flip every other on over, so that the images don't line up with each other. I haven't done this in quite a while.

Easter Egg Hunt

There's an Easter Egg Hunt going on. You can see details and prize info. here:

http://www.therustyrooster.com/easteregghunt.htm

And yes, you have found an egg. :)

I've joined the information age!

Welcome to my new blog. I love to handcraft cards, and am excited to share with you. If you ever need more details about anything I post, feel free to leave a question in the comments.

Also, you will notice in my sidebar there is button for my Etsy account. If you are looking for handstamped cards, I have them for sale there. I will be adding cards often, so come and *see* me. :)

Shortly after I opened my Etsy store, I was contacted by Michelle at Out of the Box Sampler, to see if I would like to contribute to some of their upcoming boxes. (You can view their boxes at: http://www.outoftheboxsampler.com/) I am quite excited about this, and signed up for 50 cards. I actually ended up making 65, and yes, I hand cut out 65 of those cute, little pink polka dot boots. I have to tell you though, I actually like to cut things out, so this wasn't a real hardship. Sorry, the picture is a little fuzzy.

So, no more babbling. Here's the card I'm talking about:

All supplies Stampin' Up

Cardstock: White, pixie pink kiwi kiss, chocolate chip, Sweet Always DSP

Ink: Kiwi kiss, chocolate chip, pixi pink

Accessories: Circle Punches, sizzix texture plate